SLAUGHTERHOUSE: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recalled 143 million pounds of frozen beef from from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. a Southern California slaughterhouse that is being investigated for mistreating cattle.

The state Department of Public Health released the first comprehensive list of food retailers tied to a Chino slaughterhouse and the nation’s largest beef recall.

At least 400 restaurants and markets operating in Orange County made the state’s list – including some units run by Albertsons, Fresca’s Mexican Grill, Taco Mesa and Taco Rosa and Mimi’s Café. Also, food facilities run by the County of Orange were also linked to 143 million pounds of beef recalled by Westland/Hallmark Meat Packing Co.

The Chino meat packer is owned by Newport Beach resident Steve Mendell. He has not responded to several requests for comment. Mendell’s company is at the center of a Department of Agriculture investigation triggered by a Humane Society undercover video released several weeks ago.

In the film, Chino plant workers were captured abusing “downer” or crippled cows before slaughtering them. Plant workers also used electric prods and forklifts to force the animals to stand up.

Federal law prohibits sick cows from being killed for human consumption.

The incident prompted the nation’s largest beef recall in mid-February. No illnesses have been associated with the recall, said Lea Brooks, a spokeswoman for the state’s Public Health agency. The agency posted the 59-page list on its Website late Tuesday night.

Because the recall covers two years of meat distribution in the marketplace, it will be difficult to tie any illnesses to the recalled beef, Brooks said Wednesday.

In most cases, restaurants and retailers on the list were unaware that they had ties to the Chino slaughterhouse. In fact, much of the recalled beef has likely been consumed, federal authorities have said.

Still, that hasn’t stopped the state public health agency from scrambling to find retailers connected to the recalled meat. Brooks said it’s a difficult task because Westland/Hallmark supplied meat to “first line” distributors, who in turn, supplied beef to other clients.

Westland/Hallmark initially gave the state a list of 100 clients. However, one of those clients, supplied at least 2,500 retailers, she said.

“It’s huge task,” Brooks said of the trace back investigation.

Other Orange County retailers listed in the state report include several ethnic markets in Anaheim, Stanton and Santa Ana. Some Orange County jail facilities also received the recalled beef, according to the state.

A majority of the list included restaurants and markets operating in Southern California – ranging from Beverly Hills to Long Beach to Chino. Pechanga, an Indian Casino in Temecula, is also on the list.

Albertsons spokeswoman Lilia Rodriguez said Wednesday that the chain removed all products tied to the recalled beef last week. Some of those include Hot Pockets Philly Steak & Cheese sandwiches and several varieties of frozen ground beef patties.

She said “everything was pulled” Friday — the same day the Supervalu-owned chain was notified that those products contained recalled meat.

Costa Mesa-based Fresca’s declined to comment Wednesday. Other local restaurant owners said they were surprised to learn that their names were on the list, including Tustin-based Mimi’s Café.

Tim Pulido, the chain’s president, said Mimi’s works with four main beef suppliers. When the recalled was first announced two weeks ago, he said Mimi’s checked with its vendors to see if they had any ties to Hallmark. Those beef suppliers provided Mimi’s reports stating that they did not receive beef from the Chino plant, he said.

”I’m a little perturbed on how we got on this list, and how it was communicated,” said Pulido.

Mimi’s plans to follow-up with state health officials immediately.

“We are committed to making sure we give consumers the highest quality food possible,” said Pulido. “We’re frustrated that anything could come up to question that.”

Ivan Calderon, owner of the popular string of Taco Mesa and Taco Rosa eateries in Orange County, said he was not aware that his restaurants were on the state’s list.

“I don’t use ground beef in my restaurants,” he said. “I use rib-eye and tenderloin.”

Brooks said the recall covers all types of raw and frozen beef.

Howard Sutter, a spokesman for the Orange County Health Care Agency, said the agency is reviewing the list and will take immediate action to make sure local retailers remove any recalled meat.

Nancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurant beat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also covers dining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and is considered an expert in her field.

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